About Dr. Barrett - Tucson Vet Center

Kellie Barrett grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska where she got a Bachelor’s degree in Family Sciences and Human Resources from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While she was at UNL, she was in the University band on the Flagline and went on many trips with the football team. Go Big Red! She got her love for shelter medicine working at the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln working as an office and adoption specialist. A move to western Nebraska and a career change as a social worker inspired her to go back to school.

Kellie had always dreamed of being a veterinarian so she decided to get her prerequisites for veterinary school while getting her associates degree in veterinary technology. She graduated from Eastern Wyoming College in May 2006. In 2007, Kellie was accepted to a new cooperative program between the University of Nebraska and Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Only 25 students were accepted into this endeavor.

Kellie graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2011. She began working with Dr. Neal at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in June of 2011. Dr. Barrett was promoted to Associate Lead Veterinarian in June of 2014 and then Lead Spay/Neuter Veterinarian in January 2015.

Dr. Barrett enjoys working with Dr. Neal at Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic continuing the mission of helping people, helping their animals with affordable pet care and spay/neuter services. Kellie enjoys doing spay/neuter surgeries…especially cat neuters. Kellie finds it very rewarding to interact with clients and their pets. She also is now licensed in New Mexico and goes on spay/neuter trips with Dr. Neal’s spay/neuter charity, Asavet Charities. In June 2016, she went to Belize and spayed and neutered many cats and dogs. It was a very rewarding trip.

Kellie spends her extra time with her husband, Jim, son, Andy and daughter, Aubree. They share their home with their adopted dog, Roo, an elderly kitty named Neo and a rescue kitty named Eighty-Eight. Eighty-Eight came in with the Best friend’s program and Dr. Barrett spayed her and removed her non-functional eyes. She brought the little kitten home to “foster” her, and Neo fell in love with her, along with the whole family. Kellie’s hobbies include going to or watching NASCAR races (Go Dale Jr.!), reading and watching HGTV or the Cooking channels.